Understanding Rural America
Rural America
A VITAL and CHANGING part of the Nation.
Rural America has been and continues to be a vital part of the Nation.
Today, rural America comprises 2,288 counties (note 1). It
contains 83 percent of the Nation's land and is home to 21 percent (51 million)
of its people. In 1992, nonmetro counties supplied 18 percent of the Nation's
jobs and generated 14 percent of its earnings. Rural people and communities
today are engaged in and depend upon a wide range of economic activities—from
manufacturing to mining, from recreational services to agriculture and
everything in between. Yet, rural residents are likely to have many of their
needs— shopping, medical care, banking—at least partially met by
providers in urban areas. This picture of rural America is very different from
what it once was.
Map: In 1993, nonmetro America accounted for 83 percent of the Nation's land and 21 percent of its population.
At the beginning of the 20th century, rural America was the center of
American life. It was home to most of the population and was the source of food
and fiber for the Nation's sustenance and commerce. And most of its people were
involved in producing that food and fiber. The typical rural community in 1900
consisted of a small town or village with numerous small farms within a few
miles. Most people lived their lives and fulfilled most of their needs, economic
and otherwise, within this community. They had little contact with areas beyond
the community.
Rural America has changed in many ways over the century. The rural economy
in particular has changed—shifting from a dependence on farming, forestry,
and mining to a striking diversity of economic activity. Another significant
change has been in the connection between rural areas and cities. Improvements
in communication and transportation between the two have reduced rural isolation
and removed many of the cultural differences between them. Television, phone
service, and transportation systems have helped bring rural and urban dwellers
much closer together in terms of culture, information, and lifestyles.
As these changes took place, rural America became home to a smaller and
smaller share of the Nation's population. And while it continues to provide most
of the Nation's food and fiber, rural America has taken on additional roles,
providing labor for industry, land for urban and suburban expansion, sites for
storage of waste and hazardous activities, and natural settings for recreation
and enjoyment.
And the changes in rural America continue. Following is an examination of
some of these key changes.
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Updated: February 10, 1997
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